Palliative Care Australia makes submissions on issues of relevance to palliative and end-of-life care to a wide variety of inquiries and studies.
Health system reform and care at the end of life
Health system reform and care at the end of life: A guidance document represents a shared vision for the development of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care in Australia. The need for a comprehensive end-of-life guidance document was seen as critical given the numerous reform processes and strategy development arrangements currently underway across the Australian health and community care sectors. By providing the best informed advice, government, policy makers and service providers will be able to set priorities for end of life care so that Australia doesn’t fall behind other developed nations in this area.
Comment on NHMRC ethical issues paper
Palliative Care Australia has provided comment on the National Health and Medical Research Council's Ethical issues involved in transitions to palliation and end-of-life care for people with chronic conditions: A discussion paper for patients, carers and health professionals.
Read PCA's submission
PCA Federal Budget 2010-2011 submission
All Australians ought to be able to expect to die with their preventable pain and other symptoms well managed, with the people they wish present, and whenever possible, in the place of their choice.
Download
Dying well: PCA submission to final phase of government consultation on health reform
Read PCA's submission to the final phase of government consultation on the health reform process. Submissions were limited by the government to 2,500 characters.
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Achieving quality use of medicines in the community for palliative and end-of-life care
A consultation report produced by the National Prescribing Service and Palliative Care Australia
This report documents a shared understanding of the barriers to the best use of medicines in the end stages of life.
Informed by submissions from more than 70 health care organisations and individuals, the report describes medicines use issues in palliative care and documents ways in which it can be improved.
Read the report
Read the media release
Alternative devices to Graseby syringe drivers currently available on the Australian market
May 2009 Update
Since their introduction in the mid 1970s, syringe drivers have provided symptom control via subcutaneous infusions of drugs to treat unrelieved pain and other distressing symptoms when other routes are inappropriate or no longer effective. The Graseby MS16A (introduced in 1976) and MS26 (introduced in 1983) syringe drivers have been a mainstay of palliative care provision across Australia for thirty years.
Following the withdrawal from sale of the Graseby syringe drivers, PCA in collaboration with the Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education have prepared a report to help inform the palliative care and aged care sectors about alternative devices that are available to the Australian market.
Full report
Appendix 1
Self report by companies against 34 criteria identified by PCA and CPCRE
Appendix 2
Organisations willing to be contacted regarding their experiences with alternative subcutaneous infusion devices
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
The Government’s health reform agenda offers the prospect of a means to a better end, if opportunities are seized. The original PCA submission to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission stressed the importance of providing quality care at the end of life within an integrated health care system.
The PCA response to the NHHRC Interim Report provides a focused analysis of where we fully agree with the commission’s interim report, and where (and why) we suggest changes and additions.
PCA’s first submission
PCA’s response to the interim report
NHHRC interim report
NHHRC final report
National primary health care strategy
Primary health care is the basis of our health system and needs more resources. The primary health care system, as the first and continual point of contact, and in many cases the coordinator of and key link in multidisciplinary health services, is integral to enhancing quality care at the end of life both for patients, and importantly their families.
PCA’s submission to the National primary health care strategy
Priorities for the 2009-10 budget
Developing a new reality for quality care at the end of life: A means to a better end
PCA's 2009-10 budget submission
Other PCA submissions and reports
Guidelines for a palliative approach for aged care in the community setting
Edith Cowan University
PCA submission
Inquiry into residential and community aged care in Australia
Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration
PCA submission
Inquiry into better support for carers
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth
PCA submission
Living within limits: Ethical issues for those ageing with chronic illness
National Health and Medical Research Council draft issues paper
PCA submission
Inquiry into National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits – Cost Recovery) Bill 2008
Senate Community Affairs Committee
PCA submission 1
PCA submission 2
Priorities for the 2008-09 budget
Quality care at the end of life: Creating the new reality
PCA submission
Australia 2020 Summit
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd convened the Australia 2020 Summit on 19 and 20 April, 2008 to help “tackle the long term challenges confronting Australia’s future”.
PCA submission
Inquiry into the Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
PCA submission
Australians with terminal illness to receive superannuation lump sums tax free
Palliative Care Australia participated in the consultation process for the Bill which will improve quality care at the end of life.
PCA submission
Read the Minister's press release
Operation and effectiveness of patient assisted travel schemes (PATS)
Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry
PCA submission
Committee final report
Inquiry into the Health Insurance Bill 2006
Senate Community Affairs Committee
PCA submission
Committee final report
PCA roundtable discussion
National safety and quality accreditation standards
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
PCA submission